DJI Air 2S review

With a pro-sized camera and a compact frame, is the DJI Air 2S a Mavic 2 Pro? Is it an Air 2? Or is it something altogether new?

5 Star Rating
DJI Air 2S review
(Image: © DJI)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The DJI Air 2S drone is an amazing achievement, bringing a great camera into a compact airframe and combining it with AI systems which are useful and surprisingly accessible. It moves the camera on from the Air 2, welcoming photo enthusiasts to the drone world at a more accessible tier than in the past. Outdoor adventurers, bikers, surfers and travelers will welcome the drone’s size and feature-set – while the Mavic 2 Pro now looks very hard to justify.

Pros

  • +

    5.4K Video, HDR

  • +

    1-inch sensor

  • +

    Ever-better AI

  • +

    Portable

Cons

  • -

    No side sensors

  • -

    App can be distracting

  • -

    Price bump from Air 2

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The DJI Air 2S redefines what’s possible with drone photography, putting a 1-inch sensor in a tiny package and surrounding it with sophisticated safety and compositional aids. On the other hand, it could be seen as just taking the already extremely capable DJI Air 2, released only 12 months ago, and bumps the specs a bit.

In a way, both views are true. Looking back at the Air 2, that drone came with a newly designed airframe which tucked between the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom (905g) and Mavic Mini (249g), giving DJI’s range of folding drones a consistent design language. The Air 2’s half-inch sensor was larger than its own predecessor, but of course some fans insisted the DJI Mavic 2 Pro’s 1-inch sensor should have made its way down.

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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook